Man fails to appear before Judgment Debt Commission after several invitations

Attempts by the Judgment Debt Commission to get one Peter Abbam to testify before it has so far proved futile.

Mr. Abbam was in 2005 paid a judgment debt in excess of 200,000 cedis after he sued the Attorney General for the destruction of his fence wall during the construction of the Kanda highway.

Officials of the Attorney-General’s department have since revealed that the land Mr. Abbam claimed ownership of, was actually government’s land.

However, after more than three invitations by the commission to explain his role in the payment of the money, Mr. Abbam failed to appear.

Joy News’ Kwakye Afreh-Nuamah reported that speaking at the commission’s sitting, Friday, Sole commissioner, Justice Yaw Apau wondered how such a huge amount was paid to a man, who was not entitled to it.

On a lighter note, the Sole Commissioner wondered if Mr. Abbam is a ghost due to the lack of response to appear at the commission’s sittings, when he was asked to do so.

Perhaps, uncertainty about the spelling of his name could account for his continuous absence at the sitting, the Commission observed.

According to the Commission’s legal counsel, Mr. Dometi Sokpor, records available to the commission indicates different spellings of Mr. Abbam’s name.

Chief state attorney, Dorothy Afriyie Ansah explains that records in the custody of the Attorney General’s Department indicate two different spellings of the name of the witness.

She also concedes the state did a poor job in defending the state against the questionable amount paid to Mr. Abbam.

Meanwhile, the Commission said it will still make every effort to get Mr. Abbam appear before it, to respond to some crucial questions.